Karate athletes Yevhen and Daria Pilipyuk did not return to Ukraine after international competitions. The karate athlete explained why he stayed abroad with his wife

Ukrainian karate athlete Yevhen Pylypyuk, who did not return to Ukraine after participating in competitions abroad, explained the reasons behind his decision in a video message shared on Ukrainian Telegram channels.

Pylypyuk stated that his coaches had promised him exemption from military conscription in exchange for $4,000, claiming they would enroll him in a postgraduate program. However, they ultimately failed to deliver on their promise. Additionally, they were unable to secure him a coaching position at a youth sports school, which would have also granted him a deferral from military service.

As a result, Pylypyuk decided to enroll in a university abroad to obtain a legal deferral from the draft in Ukraine.

Yevhen also revealed that his wife, Daria, who traveled with him and also remained abroad, recently gave birth to their child. He emphasized that he now needs to provide for his family.

Despite his explanation, Pylypyuk admitted that he understands the criticism directed at him and acknowledged that his actions were “wrong.”

It is worth noting that in late December 2024, Yevhen and Daria Pylypyuk, both Ukrainian karate athletes, refused to return to Ukraine after a tournament in Venice. They deleted their social media accounts and stopped responding to calls from their colleagues.

The Ukrainian Karate Federation revoked their membership in the organization, citing “failure to return to Ukraine and violation of conscription regulations.” The federation also announced its intention to petition the World Karate Federation for a lifetime ban on the athletes and the revocation of their sporting awards.

As a reminder, the number of Ukrainians failing to return from abroad tripled in 2024 compared to previous years.